WHAT WE DO
WOMEN'S HEALTH
When it comes to women's health, one of the greatest strengths of traditional Chinese medicine is that it takes a truly holistic view of reproductive health. Chinese medicine teaches that small imbalances in any area of the body can have profound effects on the body, and that to truly address women’s health, the body as a whole must be taken into account.
Patients frequently seek care at Spreading Roots Acupuncture for help with symptoms associated with painful periods, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hormonal headaches, and menopause/perimenopause. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be an effective tool to help your body feel more well when navigating reproductive health conditions.
FERTILITY, PREGNANCY
+POSTPARTUM
FERTILITY
Many fertility patients notice more regular cycles with more balanced hormones and more predictable ovulation on their fertility trackers after beginning acupuncture care for fertility.
Research studies suggest that acupuncture may help to improve oocyte (egg) health by supporting blood flow to the ovaries. A minimum of 3 months of regular (weekly) acupuncture sessions are recommended for improved egg egg health. During these sessions, we will also address any other areas of imbalance in the body that may negatively impact fertility outcomes with acupuncture, supplements, and/or herbal medicine.
At Spreading Roots Acupuncture, we've worked with many women to improve their fertility, both when trying to conceive naturally and through assisted reproductive techniques (ART) like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). For patients with complex fertility conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, autoimmune disorders, and unexplained infertility, acupuncture can help to improve outcomes by reducing inflammation and balancing hormones.
PREGNANCY
Acupuncture is safe during all stages of pregnancy when administered by practitioners trained in pregnancy care. Some common reasons for pregnant people to seek care in our office include:
First Trimester:
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Morning sickness
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Indigestion
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Fatigue
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Anxiety
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Supporting healthy hormone levels
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Any pre-existing health issues
Second Trimester:
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Headaches
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Constipation
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Insomnia
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Body pains
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Carpal tunnel
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Itchy skin
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Pregnancy condition support (hypertension, gestational diabetes, etc)
Third Trimester
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Body pains
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Insomnia
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Swelling
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Heartburn
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Proper fetal positioning
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Cervical ripening
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Labor preparation
For those looking to support their body before going into labor, weekly sessions are recommended starting around 34 weeks, and may increase in frequency closer to your due date.
POSTPARTUM
In traditional Chinese medicine, the postpartum recovery period is one of the most important times in a woman’s life. It is important to help your body recover and heal from pregnancy and childbirth to prevent health issues later on.
Some of the reasons that people seek acupuncture during the postpartum period include postpartum mood disorders, pelvic floor dysfunction, issues with milk let down, fatigue, and neck/back pain.
PAIN RELIEF
In the United State, acupuncture is most well known for its ability to address pain. It is recommended by the American College of Physicians for acute and chronic low back pain and by the National Institute of Health for low back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee. Acupuncture works well alongside physical therapy and/or chiropractic care to get you back to your normal activities.
At Spreading Roots Acupuncture, a custom pain management plan is created for you based on a thorough assessment. Acupuncture is just one of the tools used to address pain in Chinese medicine, and most patients see the greatest improvement with a combination of therapies like acupuncture, tui na medical massage, infrared heat therapy, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and topical application of Chinese herbal medicine.
AUTOIMMMUNE +
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
When it comes to autoimmune and digestive disorders, Chinese medicine looks to not only calm the acute symptoms of the disorder, but to find the root cause of the problems in order to make recurrences of symptoms less likely.
During your first appointment, a thorough health history is taken to understand the circumstances around the onset of your condition and to evaluate your body systems, your diet and lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, and constitutional tendencies.
With most autoimmune and digestive disorders, regular treatment is key. For most patients, weekly sessions are needed to help calm down acute/flare symptoms before spacing out to maintenance sessions to keep the body in balance and minimize the recurrence of symptom flares.
MENTAL WELLNESS
In Chinese medicine theory, there is no separation between the body and the mind/spirit. Imbalances or illnesses of the body can affect our mental wellness, and mental stress, anxiety, and depression can have big impacts on the health of the physical body.
A major benefit of adding acupuncture and Chinese medicine to your mental health toolkit is being able to address both the physical and mental symptoms that keep you from feeling your best in a single session. Acupuncture acts as a “reset” to our nervous system, helping to turn off our fight or flight response and allowing our bodies to rest and repair.